Servomotor



Oct. 27, 1936. G. F. BRADY ET Al.

SERVOMOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1934 GIBrady and .Ansel Dele,

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oct. 27, 1936. G, F BRADY ET AL 2,059,082

SERVOMOTOR Filed Dec. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 247, `1936 UNITED STATES aosaoaz snavomio'roa George F. Brady and Ansel Dekle. Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii Application December 26, 1934, Serial No. '159,298

5 Claima (Cl. 121-41) The invention relates to servo motors for general applications of certain functions, and particularly has herein been adapted to use for the operation of motor vehicle brakes, from which 5 other uses may be understood.

The invention has for an object to provide a simple and inexpensive power-operated brake or other motor, in which force may be applied in proportion to movementl of a control member manually or pedally operated, or operated other- Wise. At the same time it is an important object to so construct the appliance that no abrupt or excessive action will be produced. Another important object is to so construct the invention for brake or other use that maximum force applied may be limited to a, predetermined degree, and whereby adjustment of this limit may be easily effected.

Another important advantage of the invention is the application of force with a modulated eiect proportionate to the emergency need. Thus, in a motor vehicle, when moving at slow speeds a relative small `force will eiect its stoppage, while at high speeds much greater force may be required. At the same time the limit of maximum of a motor vehicle in ordinary applications, and the device may be adjusted to avoid such locking entirely, if desired. It is also an advantage to provide such a device, which, while requiring no considerable eiort on the part of the operator, will yet be free from liability of excessive braking action in application movements.

Additional objects reside in speciiic refinements of the mechanism, as for instance, asnovel means for controlling the maximum force. Also a novel organization for enabling sustained action at full maximum, even should there be loss of eiciency by wear, -lost motion, or leakage, without requiring other than the normalv operation by the user. It is also an important aim to present such a device equally eiective and adaptable to use on both hydraulic and lever-operated or other brakes. Y f

Additional objects, advantages and features of inventionreside inthe construction, arrangement andcombination of parts involved in the embodiment of the 'invention as will be understood from thel following description and drawings, wherein 50 Figure l is' a'vertical section of one embodiment of the invention on the axis of the main cylinder and control parts.

' Figure 2 is a detail of the piston valve.

Figure3 is an elevaticn'ef the pump and main 55 cylinder and control.

force will operate to prevent locking of the wheels Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4--4 of Figure 1. 4,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the mainy cylinder.

'I'he device in its present embodiment being 5 specially adapted to hydraulic brakes, and the construction of the latter being Well known and understood in the art, the brake structure, other than the main operating iiuid conduit will not be shown. y 10 There is shown a main operating or brake fluid conduit or pipe IIL-which may lead by usual pipe branches to .the standard brake cylinders from a main or operating cylinder I I in which there reciprocates a piston I2, by which a suitable brake 15 uid may be compressed in the pipe I0. 'I'he pist0n I2 operates in an uninterrupted right hand end part of the cylinder throughout the piston movement but the head of the piston moves in an extended left hand conduit chamber portion of the cylinder in which conduit portion elongated longitudinal outlet ports or slots 4I3 are formed, narrowed to form shoulders I3 near their left ends. The piston has at its head distant always from the uninterrupted part of the cylinder, splines I4 slidable in the slots, and formed with outwardly oiset laterally reduced longitudinal extensions I5 outwardly of the external wall of the cylinder, for a purpose to be described.

The cylinder is mounted in a chamber I6 which 30 may be a cast body having an integral headIl at the right into a tapped opening of which a nipple tenon I9 on the open end of the cylinder is screwed, as a mounting, an external nipple 20 on the head I'I being utilized for coupling the pipe 35 I 0 in a familiar way. The opposite end of the chamber is closed by a head I8 bolted thereto and the opposite endv of the cylinder is tenoned and ported at 2| as an inlet, the tenon being engaged through a suitable opening in this head plate, with ,1U suitable gasket or other seal. The tenen element of the cylinder may be separately formedk and conneoted'thereto, if desired.` The piston I2 is held yieldingly yat initial non-compression position by a helical spring 22; the splines I4 engaging the 45 shoulders I3 near the left ends of the slots I3 to limit this relief movement of the piston and so leave the narrow parts of the slots open. The chamber I6 is formed with foot pieces 24 for mounting as required. The slots I3 extend to the 50 left beyondthe piston at all positions of the pis-l ton and serve as communication between the conduit chamber II' and chamber I6, which form part of a simple circulatory system in which iiuid is taken from the chamber I6 through a pump- 55 intake pipe 25 to the pump 25, the pump delivering the iluid through delivery pipe 21 through the head plate I8 and tenon nipple 2|, any usual coupling being utilized for the connections. Preferably the pump is a gear pump, operating in any usual manner from the motor of the vehicle or other power plant.

The cylinder is smoothly iinished exteriorly to ail'ord a seat for a reciprocable control sleeve valve 28 slldable on'the cylinder, and of suillcient length to nearly cover the slots I 3 throughout their length. 'I'he sleeve valve is operated by manual `or pedal means, a pedal 29 being shown in the present instance, carried on a rod 38 slldable through the head plate of the chamber I5 and connected to a lug 3I on the upper side of the sleeve valve. 'I'he rod mounting consists of a bored boss 32 formed integrally on the head plate, a helical spring 33 being confined between the pedal and head yoke. The boss extends withirr the spring a suflicient distance to serve as a stop for the pedal before the far end of the sleeve valve reaches the distant ends of the slots I3. On the upper side of the chamber I 5 a guide lug 34 is formed, and on the head plate I8 a similar one 35, both bored on an axis parallel to the cylinder II, to receive slidably a tube 36 in which a detent device is mounted, to hold the valve 28 at various stages of operation or to release it, as desired. On the chamber I6 a ratchet bar 3l is mounted having teeth inclined away from the pedal, and on the tube a dog 38 is mounted slidable through the tube to engage the ratchet bar at times, a leaf spring 39 being ilxed on the outer side of the dog and attached to the side of the tube as a mounting for the dog and serving to press the latter inward yieldingly. 'Ihe left end of the tube is exteriorly threaded and screwed tightly into the upper part of the pedal so as to be xed thereon and to reciprocate therewith. The tube stops short of the face of the pedal. Within the tube there are a number of guide blocks 40 in which there is slidable 'a rod 4I having a button or release knob 42 adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator to operate the rod independently of the pedal at times, or to hold the rod in a given position and to be moved with the pedal, a helical spring 43 being confined between the knob and one of the guide blocks 40 so as to hold the button extended yleldingly. The dog 38 is formed with av vertical slot 44 in which the rod recigocates, and projecting a distance below the rod normally. The rod is formed with a lift cam 45 normally to the left of the dog, with a lift face inclined upwardly from adjacent the dog toward the left, so that when the button 42 is depressed in the pedal the dog is cleared of the ratchet bar. The dog will `normally hold the pedal depressed at any stage to which it is forced by the foot of the operator, if the button is not depressed, but by applying the foot to the upper part of the pedal the latter will be released at any time when so desired. Also, if the pedal is operated by pressure on the upper part including the button, the pedal and brake will respond at once to relief movement of the foot. The spring 33 may be comparatively light so that but little effort is required to operate the brake, and the spring 22 as is desirable in order to avail of certain functions of my invention in certain forms, a brakeiiuid supply or reservoir 45 is provided, having communication by gravity with the pipe III, through a pipe 41 and delicate check valve 48. The bottom of the reservoir is also connected by pipe 49 to the chamber I5 without any interposed check valve. as no pressure is required in the latter normally. A further vent connection 58 is also formed between the top of the chamber I6 and an intermediate level of the reservoir, for clearing air from the chamber I5, and permit ready iiow of oil from the reservoir to the chamber. A vented filler cap 5I is provided at the top of the reservoir.

A special pressure sustainer and compensator device 52 is provided in association with the outlet of the cylinder II, which in the present instance is shown as a vertical cylinder extension 53 of the conduit I0 in which there is slldable apiston 54, the cylinder 53 being closed by a cap 55, by which a helical spring 56 is coniined in the cylinder, bearing on the piston. The latter spring should cause the piston to resist a liquid pressure in the pipe I0' exceeding the normal maximum brake pressure in the pipe I0. From the central part of the cap a vent 51 extends to open into the reservoir 45.

In use, the pump being in operation, and the pedal in released position, the circulating iluid moved by the pump will pass from the chamber I6 through the pipe 25, pump and pipe 21 to the left chamber II of the cylinder II, which is al- Ways divided from the cylinder proper II by the piston I2. 'I'he iluid then passes through the slots I3 to the chamber I5 and again to the pipe 25 whereby the orbital or circulatory movement is repeated. Any pressure which may tend to develop in the left'chamber II will be relieved by reason of the sleeve valve being at the left extreme of its movement, uncovering the slots I3 and also by reason of the piston being stopped short ot the left ends of the slots sufllciently to permit passage of the iluid without material compression of the spring 22. In case it is desired to apply the brake the pedal 28 is pushed Iorwardly to the right by the operator. This restricts the movement of :duid through the slots, and develops a hydrostatic pressure in the left chamber II which moves the piston I2 to the right, compressing the spring 22 until, if the pedal movement is stopped, the movement of the piston opens the slots suiilciently to relieve the hydrostatic pressure until counterbalanced by the spring 22. Movement of the piston of course compresses the brake operating iiuid in pipe I 8 in proportion to the extent of movement oi' the piston and resistance of the brake parts. If a further application of the brake or greater force is desired, the pedal is simply pressed further, and the pressure in the lei't chamber will thereby be maintained with consequent further movement of the piston and compression of the brake iluid until the pedal is stopped. In initial lstages oi.' movement of the valve 23 high pressure in the brake fluid in pipe III will not and can not be developed because the slots I3 permit passage of the circulatory fluid with relative freedom. When the sleeve valve is moved over the further parts of the slots I3, however. a greater pressure may be developed because the resistance of the spring 22 acting against the piston causes the opening of the slots to be restricted more and thereby greater pressure acts on the piston, with consequent higher pressure in the pipe I3 if the brake shoes are engaging. This effect is manifest progressively `with movement of the sleeve valve, until at the extreme right hand position of the sleeve a maximum retardance of the duid flow is eifected, due to action of the spring 22 pressing the piston toward the left.

At no time, however, is the ow of uid through the slots i3 completely checked. as the extensions I5 on the splines are engaged by the sleeve if the latter is pressed far enough, and the piston head held away from the valve.

The brake pressure may be moderated while braking action is maintained, by keeping the foot engaged with the button 42 and allowing the pedal to return toward initial position, therebyl opening the slots l! more, and allowing the piston to move toward relief position. By keeping the foot clear of the button. the brake may be kept applied, at any desired stage.

Should the motor of the vehicle not be operating, ythe engagement of the sleeve with the spline extensions will operate the piston, but will require sufficient physical effort to produce the necessary hydrostatic pressures in pipe I0.

Also, in case the brake is applied while the motor is in operation, and the pump pressures utilized to apply the brake, if the brake is retained in applied position by means of the dog 38, and the motor stopped, the brake will be kept applied by engagement of the sleeve 28 with the spline extensions.

In case of leakage of the brake uid in pipe I0 from any point in the brake system, including the piston and cylinder, on relief operation and return of the piston by the spring 22, a fresh supply will be drawn from the reservoir past check valve I8 into the pipe I0.

The cylinder and piston are preferablyproportioned so that full or maximum brake pressure may be attained while the piston yet may be moved a substantial distance under control of the pedal and valve 28, say, for one cubic inch displacement. The device functions in such manner that if the maximum brake pipe pressure is attained and further movement of the piston effected, the spring 56 yields, allowing the piston to accommodate the additionally displaced brake fluid until the piston has reached its limit of movement. Should there then be any leakage around the piston, the piston 5l will return by expansion of the spring 56 and maintain the pressure. Adjustment of the force of the spring B6 may be made by replacement, and the strength will vary with the nature of the service. Fifty pounds per square inch would be normal for a passenger vehicle for family use.

It will be understood that for lever-operated `brake systems. a rod may be connected to the piston l2 to function as an equivalent of the hydraulic system and extended through usual supports and guides. The stops I! may, of course, be omitted if desired, so that the sleeve valve would be capable of overlapping the piston momentarily, at least in the early stages of movement oi' the piston, and if the stops -Il are omitted, there would still be provided a nnal clearance over the slots, by reason oi the boss stopping the pedal and sleeve, while the piston moves a short distance in its ilnal movement toward the right.

We claim:-

1. A servo-system comprising a circulatory fluid system consisting of a conduit having an inlet at one part and outlet ports in its sides elongated longitudinally and narrowed at their ends next adjacent the inlet to denne shoulders, a piston slidable in the cylinder, said piston having a spline element disposed in the outlet ports and movable with `the piston throughout the length of the wider portion of the slots, said spline being of a width to contact the shoulders, means to transmit power from the piston, a valve slidable over the outlet ports, and means for operating the valve.

2. A servo-system comprising a circulatory iuid system consisting of a conduit including a cylinder having inlets and outlets in the form of longitudinal slots in the walls of the cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder, said slots being narrow at their parts adjacent initial position of the piston and wide in the direction of power transmission from the piston, said 4piston having a spline element disposed within the wide portions of the slots, said splines being of a width to engage the narrow portion of the slots, a valve longitudinally slidable over the slots, means to operate the valve at will, and a power transmitting connection with the piston.

3. A servo-system comprising a circulatory iluid system consisting of a conduit having an inlet at one part and outlet ports in its sides elongated longitudinally and narrowed at their ends next adjacent the inlet, a piston slidable in the cylinder, said piston having a spline element diFposed in the outlet ports and movable with the piston throughout the length of the wider portion of the slots and of a width to engage the narrow portion of the slots, means to transmit power from the piston, a valve slidable over the outlet ports, means for operating the valve, and a multiple stage detent device associated with the valve operating means, said detent device being releasable at will.

4. A servo-system comprising a circulatory uid system consisting of a cylinder having an inlet port at one part and outlet ports in its sides, said outlet ports being elongated longitudinally and narrowed at their ends adjacent the inlet, a piston slidable in the cylinder, splines on the piston slidable in the wide portion of the slots and of a width to engage the narrow portions thereof, a sleeve valve slidably fitted to the cylinder for controlling the outlet ports, said splines having a projection in the path of the sleeve to be contacted thereby, whereby to maintain a limited opening of the ports.

5. A servo-system comprising a circulatory fluid system consisting of a conduit including a cylinder having an inlet at one part and a lateral outlet spaced longitudinally therefrom and elongated longitudinally of the cylinder, a piston slidable in the cylinder along said port and to extend therebeyond opposite said inlet, a sleeve valve slidable over the outlet, means for operating the valve at will,.and a stop on the piston slidable in the outlet and projecting into the path of the valve to engage the valve and hold the latter short of the piston.

GEORGE F. BRADY.

ANSEL DEKLE. 

